MILK FOR CHILDREN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23224, 23 June 1937, Page 10

MILK FOR CHILDREN

A SHORTAGE OF SUPPLIES CAREFUL TEST OF SUBSTITUTES (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 22. " Milk powder will not be used in any place where there is fresh milk available," said the Acting Prime Minister (Mr P Eraser), when referring in an interview tonight to the milk-in-schools scheme. " It is correct to say that in many parts of the country the milk-in-schools scheme, which is benefiting daily some 80,000 children in the Dominion, is meeting with difficultv so far as supplies are concerned

' One of the reasons foi th.s,' the Minister said " has been the untoward season and the other is that the milk'suppliers of various country towns were not prepared for such an increased demand on their supply The result simply t? that winter milk is not available It is anticipated that in a few weeks' time these difficulties will bt overcome to a very large axtent. "The practice set by the department In obtaining milk wherever possible from certified tuberculintested herds with pasteurisation in addition has been adhered to up to the present' Mr Fraser said. "It is true the question of substituting dried whole-milk where fresh milk is not available is under consideration, but at present the developments are only in the experimental stage. Various whole-milk powders, including malted-milk powder, are being examined by the Health Department and samples are being analysed and reported on. These substitutes will not be used unless it is established that they are good, wholesome food, approximating as far as possible in nutritive value to fresh milk.

"In the Native school at Tokaanu Dr H B Turbott. medical officer of health for the Waikato, is supervising the provision of whole-malted milk." the Minister added "" am informed that it is impossible to find supplies of fresh milk for the Native children there, so whole-malted milk has been substituted I feel that there is every reason to believe that the trial will be successful from a nutritive point of view, but quite definitely milk powder will not be used in any place where there is fresh milk available."